Railroad Sleeper

Railway sleepers, also called railroad ties, railway ties or crossties, are an important railway component. Railroad sleepers support the rail tracks, also maintain the position of rail track, transfer the pressure from steel rail to rail bed and reduce the vibration of rails. All kinds of railway sleepers should be flexible and elastic, and when the train wheels are on the railway sleepers, it buffers the pressure and quickly returns to its original shape.

Wooden railway sleeper

When it comes to wooden railway sleepers, we are familiar with oak sleepers and pine sleepers. The materials of oak sleepers and pine sleepers have two common characteristics. Oil content is relatively high, and the growth cycle is relatively long. The higher the oil content of the wood, the better the wear resistance of the wooden pillow. The wooden sleeper is made of wood materials with the above characteristics can effectively disperse the pressure exerted by the train and extend the service life of the wooden sleeper. In addition, wood sleepers are cheaper than others and easy to manufacture.

Advantage:

1. Wooden railway sleepers are light in weight, and they can be easily transported and handled.
2. Wooden railway sleepers are adapted to non-standard situations.

Disadvantages:

1.Weak against fire, Easily affected by humidity ,so the life of wooden railway sleepers is much less compared to others.

Common wooden sleeper

common wooden sleeper is used in the main line of railway.

Type	Length(mm)	Width(mm)	Thickness(mm)
KTMB	2000(±12)	254(+12,0)	127(+11,-3)
TypeⅠ	2500(±60)	220(±10)	160(0,-5)
type Ⅱ	2500(±60)	220(±10)	145(0,-5)
standard	2600-4800(±60)	240(±10)	160(0,-5)

Treated wooden sleeper for turnout

Switch sleeper apply for turnout zone at the junction of railway lines.

Type	Length(mm)	Width(mm)	Thickness(mm)
Normal	2600-4850	220	160
standard	2600-4800	240	160

Treated wooden sleeper for bridge

Bridge wooden sleeper is used for railroad line laying on the bridge.

Type	Length(mm)	Width(mm)	Thickness(mm0
Standard	3000	220	240/260/280/300

Concrete railway sleeper

Concrete sleepers are generally more expensive than traditional wooden or steel sleepers. Because they are made from a mix of cement, sand and aggregate, concrete sleepers offer higher strength and stability. They provide durability and long-term strength making them for use in demanding weather conditions. Their lifespan exceeds those of wooden and steel sleepers and often require less maintenance .In addition, they can reduce noise pollution when constructing near busy roads or railways. Concrete sleeper can be classified into prestressed, pre-tension, and two-block.

Advantages:

Concrete sleepers are heavier than all other types so give good stability to the rails.
They have good fire resistance, and corrosion does not occur in concrete sleepers. Hence, they are suitable for all types of soil and moisture conditions.

Disadvantages:

Because of heavy weight, handling is difficult.
For tracks on bridges and at crossings, concrete sleepers are not suitable.

Steel railroad sleeper

Steel sleepers are made to meet modern operational demands and track-laying methods, so they can be adapted for types of rail tracks. The rail track and sleeper are optimized and more efficient with less maintenance work. It requires less ballast than concrete sleeper and it is much lighter, so the delivery, construction and renewing of sleepers are more cost-efficient.

Advantages:

1.Steel sleepers are light in weight . so it is easy to transport, to place and to install.

2.Steel sleepers are recyclable and has possess good scrap value.

3.Steel sleepers are good resistant to fire, life span of steel sleepers is about 30 years.

4.Steel sleepers are well suitable for tracks of high speeds and larger loads.

Disadvantages:

1.Steel sleepers are light in weight so, easy to transport, to place and to install.

2.Steel sleepers can be affected by chemicals easily.

3.Steel sleepers require high maintenance.

4.If derailment occurs, Steel sleepers are damaged very badly.

BS-500 Series Steel Railway Sleepers

Size	Standard	Material	Length
BS75A	BS 5000-2000	SAE1522 ST52.3 20MnK SS490 Q255A	1830mm 1900mm 2000mm
BS75R
BS80A
BS90A
BS100A
BS113A

UIC 865 Series Steel Sleepers

Size	Standard	Material	Length
UIC 54	UIC865	According to customer’s requirements	According to customer’s requirements
UIC60

Composite railway sleeper

In terms of material, composite sleepers belong to a kind of plastic railway sleepers. It’s made of a new material called continuous glass fiber reinforced polyurethane foam. This kind of new material is environmentally friendly, recyclable and comes from a wide range of sources.

Advantage:

Composite sleepers have longer spans about 50 years.
Composite sleepers are eco-friendly sleepers.
They are light in weight but possess great strength.
They can be resized easily like wooden sleepers. So, they can be used for any type of rail.

Disadvantage :

The fire protection effect of composite sleepers is not very good.

Comparison of railway sleepers

Type	Material	Durability	Maintenance	cost
Wooden sleeper	Wood	Moderate	High	Low
Steel sleeper	steel	High	Low	High
Concrete sleeper	Concrete	High	Low	Medium
Composite sleeper	Continuous glass fiber reinforced polyurethane foam	High	Low	Low

Railway sleeper installation

1. Sleeper installation
Sleepers are carefully positioned, and spaced along the prepared ballast bed at the required intervals. Place the new sleepers at the correct spacing and alignment.
2. Rail installation
After the sleepers are in place, the rails are threaded back onto the rail seats of the sleepers, Guide the rails back onto the sleepers from the sides. Rail fastening systems are installed to secure the rails to the sleepers.
3. Ballast regulating and tamping
Once the sleepers and rails are in place, the ballast use ballast regulators and tamping machines. This process ensures that the sleepers are properly supported and the track geometry is maintained within acceptable.
Quality assurance
4. rigorous inspections
Making quality assurance checks ensure that the work meets all safety and performance standards. This process includes visual inspections, geometry measurements, and testing of the rail fastening systems. Before the track is returned for service, making necessary adjustments ensure compliance.

The railroad sleeper implications

The choice of railway sleepers encompasses environmental considerations, economic implications, and the sustainability of rail systems. As technology advances, innovations in sleeper materials and design continue to emerge.

Environmental implications

The environmental impact of railway sleepers is a critical aspect of the modern era. Traditional materials like wood and concrete may have associated ecological issues, such as deforestation and high energy consumption in production. In contrast, the use of composite sleepers made from waste materials presents a more sustainable and environmental friendly option.

Economic implications

There are many economic considerations in choosing railway ties. Although wooden sleepers may have initial cost advantages, their shorter lifespan and higher maintenance requirements can lead to long-term problems. Concrete and steel sleepers, with their durability and low maintenance needs, may prove more economically viable over extended periods.requirements and may be more economical over long periods of time. Additionally, the recyclability of materials like steel and composites makes rail infrastructure sustainable.

Why choose us

AGICO is the most professional railway sleeper manufacturer, we have wide experience in railway sleeper processing. We have a professional team, adopt advanced production equipment, and ensure product quality. We have won trust and favor from clients with our superior quality and considerate best service. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us!